Assistant Hospital Housekeeping Officer

The Assistant Hospital Housekeeping Officer is responsible for the environmental program that includes quality assurance, textile management, integrated pest management (IPM) and regulated medical waste (RMS) management for the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS). The primary purpose of the position is to perform technical, administrative, or professional work related to the operation and safety of the VAPAHCS. EDUCATION:

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ . RESPONSIBILITIES: Duties include but are not limited to:

Plans, coordinates, and directs short- and long-range operating activities to provide a sanitary environment

Performs designated administrative and supervisory functions to assist the Chief, EMS in carrying out the responsibilities of their office

Actively contributes in developing the service budget requirements and recommends to the Chief in the selection, training, promotion, and overall leadership of the EMS operation

Assists in direction and maintenance of a system of reports and records which reflect the status of equipment, supplies, and materials, operational needs, and adjustments including personnel actions

Makes recommendations to the Chief, EMS in development of a hospital wide educational program designed to increase staff understanding of operating standards

Responsible for management of operation for the laundry and linen service for VAPAHCS to include managing laundry services contracts

Routinely inspects wards, rooms, corridors, stairways, lavatories, and administrative areas for cleanliness and observes quality of work of employees and contract staff

Develops and makes recommendations to revise or establish new policies for increased coordination and servicing of medical center facilities

Researches regulatory requirements and provides viable input for implementation and compliance

Assures the proper formulation and administration of separate accounts of the annual EMS budget

Coordinates the energy management education program

Coordinates the biohazard and general waste removal from the medical center, including the recycling program and waste reduction programs

Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm Mon-Fri

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Assistant Hospital Housekeeping Officer / PD01765O

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/18/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement : Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS-11 grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR): You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Education :

Undergraduate Education : Major study -- chemistry or biological sciences, sanitary science or administration, institutional sanitation or administration, hospital administration, hotel administration, public administration, business administration, or other fields related to the position

Graduate Education : Major study - public health or business administration with emphasis in hospital administration

OR

Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience in two or more of the following areas, or other work related to the position to be filled:

Experience that demonstrated a practical working knowledge of the basic principles of chemistry, biology, and bacteriology as applied to environmental sanitation, infection control, and to the choice and use of antimicrobial agents in the disinfection, sanitization, and/or sterilization of surfaces and equipment.

Experience in laundry and linen management.

Experience in interior design management.

Experience that demonstrated a knowledge of waste management, including the requirements relating to hazardous, toxic, and infectious wastes and provisions for their final disposition.

Experience that demonstrated a knowledge of pest management, including alternative methods of control and the selection and application of chemicals.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

Accountability Administration and Management Manages Human Resources Operations Support

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note : A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: This position requires considerable walking and slight physical effort may be required.

Work Environment : Work is typically performed in inadequately lighted and climate-controlled office. May require occasional travel.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ . SALARY: QuantitativeValue EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Other